John chantrell



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JOHN CHANTRELL, OF BRlSTCL, CONNECTICUT.

Letters Patent No. 73,164, dated January 7, 1868. l

IMPROVEMENT IN KNITTING-MACHINES.

.TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: v

' Be it known that I, JOHN CHANTRELL,of Bristol, in the county of Hartford, and State of Connecticut,

have invented a new and improved Knitting-Machine; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1, sheet 1, represents a front elevation, partly in section, of my improved knitting-machine.

Figure 2, sheet 1, is a detailed front view of the needles and sinkers, showing how the yarn is formed into loops by the sinkers.

Figure 3, sheet 2, is a plan or top view, partly in section, of the same.

Figure 4, sheet 3, is a vertical transverse section of. the same, the plane of section being indicated by the line z x, fig. 3.

Figure 5, sheet 4, is an inverted plan view of the needle-carrier. Figure 6, sheet 4, is a back view of the sinker-mover. I Figure 7, sheet 4,'is a side view of a sinker.

Figure-8, sheet 4, is a. side view of the plate, which is a filling for the central arm of the sinker.

Figure 9, sheet 4, is a side view of the pivot by which the arms of the sinker are connected.

Figure 10, sheet 4, is a top view of a sinker.

Figurell, sheet 4, is a plan or top view of the needles, showing a number'fixed to a head.

Figure 12, sheet 4, is a similar view, showing a number of needles fitted in a comb-plate.

Figures 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 2(), sheet 4, are detailed sectional elevations, showing the various positionsof the horizontal and vertical needles, and the formation of the loops by the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. I

This invention relates to a new knitting-machine, in which a fiat web can be knit by the aid of two sets of" hookeclneedlcs, and by suitable sinkers playing up anddown between the horizontal needles. The yarn is taken from one single spool, and is by a suitable carrier laid over the bodies of the horizontal needles, is then between the needles depressed by. the sinker-s. The loops thus formed are taken up by the vertical needles, and are cast off over the ends of the vertical needles, upon loops held between the vertical and horizontal needles, and-are thus locked.

The invention consists in the peculiar manner of forming the loops by the two sets of needles, and by the sinkers, and in the construction and arrangement of the devices by which the yarn-guide, the needle-carriers, "the pressers, and sinkers are set in motion in the required order and succession. The invention also consists in a peculiar construction of the sinkers, and of connecting their various arms with each other.

The machine is so constructed that the needles may be operated directly from the grooved slide-plate orv needle-carrier, each one separate and independent from the.others. This knitting-loom is very certain in its action, as eachloop is formed and thrustoif with such accuracy that no loops are let down. The parts are all made very strong, and of simple construction, so that the machine cannot easily get out of order. Y

A represents a frame, 'made of cast iron, or any'other suitable material, of suitable width to accommodate the length of stroke of the needle-carrier, and of the devices connected with the -maindriving-shaft. Its length is regulated by the number of needles employed, which can be varied at pleasure. The frame is sup ported upon suitable posts or standards B B, of suitable height, and of sufiicient strength to hold the weight of the machine, and of its various appendages.

C is the main driving-shaft, arranged horizontally, near one end of the frame A, or at any. other suitable place. A pinion, a, is mounted 'on the same, and meshes into the teeth of the bevel-gear wheel 6, which is mounted on a vertical arbor, c, having its hearings in theframe'A. Upon the upper end of the arbor c is mounted a perforated disk, d, which is connected by a red, g, with toothed segment, D. The latter is fitted around a vertical pin, e,,so as to oscillate the same. Thus as the shaft C is revolved, the segment D is oscil= lated twice during each revolution of the arbor'c.

E is a horizontal shaft, having its hearings in the frame A, near to and parallel with the rear edge of the frame. A bevel-gear wheehf, is mounted on the shaft E, and meshes into the wheel 6. The diameter of the pinionfis half as long as that of the wheel I), and therefore the shaft E makes two revolutions to one of tho arbor a. The shaft E and the toothed segment D are the devices from which all the other parts of the machine receive their motion.

The conneoting-rodgis made of two or more pieces, so that it can be extended or contracted at will, whereby, in conjunction with the perforated disk d, the motion of the segment D can bcregulated. Motion is imparted to tho driving-shaft C, by meansof a belt, passing over a pulley, mounted on the shaft, or by means of any other suitable mechanism. The segment D imparts reciprocating motion to a rack, F, which is arranged upon the covering-plate h of the frame A, parallel with the front and rear edges of the same, as is clearly shown in fig. 3. i

The rack F is dove-tailed, or otherwise secured, in the plate It, in such a manner that it can only slide longitudinally, but not move transversely, nor up and down. It carries a rod or plate, 2', projecting towards the front, and fitting between two lugs, jj, which are fastened to the sliding. horizontal needle-carrier G, so that the latter will receive longitudinal reciprocating motion from the rack F. The needle-carrier G is securcd upon plates H, which are dove-tailed or secured in the frame A, in such a manner that they can slide transversely back and forth. without beingable to move in a longitudinal direction. The carrier G is held between lugs 70 k, which project from the plates H, so that the carrier can be moved longitudinally by the rack F, but will be carried in a transverse direction by the plates H, should the same receive the appropriate motion. The oarrier'G, of which fig. 5 represents an inverted plan view, is of sufiicient length to accommodate the required number of needles, and is grooved on the under side to receive the studs projecting from the needle-shanks, as shown in fig. 4. I

I I are the horizontal needles, provided with shanks, having projecting studs, as shown in fig. 4. They Irest upon the surface of the plate It, or upon that of a plate firmly secured upon the same. Their shanks are .fitted between combs Z Z, fig. 3, formed on the stationary frame A, to prevent the needles from being carried to the sides by the reciprocating motion f the carrier. As the carrier slides toand fro, by the motion of the rack F, the studs on the needle-shanks are guided in the grooves of the carrier, and the needles are, as these grooves are not straight, drawn in and out, according to the shape of the grooves. The grooves in or near the centre of the carrier have a form similar to that of a letter V, whereby the needles arc-alternately pushed out and drawn in once during every stroke of the carrier.

In fig. 5, the V-part of the groove is represented as receding behind the straight portion of the groove, whereby a slight in-and-out move is imparted to the needles, before and after they are acted upon by the V-pa'rt,

but, if desired, the V-groove may be altogether in front of the straight groove. The neeedles are either fitted separately, each one to its shank, or a number of them, or all, are secured to a block, which has then but one shank, as shown in figs. 11 and 12. They may be securely fixed, soldered or screwed, into such blocks, as in fig. 11, or they may be fitted between two plates, forming the block, said plates being held together by means of screws, as shown in fig. 12, and in fig..4, at the vertical needles. In the latter case the needles can be removed from and replaced within the block at will. The needles arefprovided with spring-hooks on their front ends, the hooks of the horizontal needles being above the needles, as shown in figs. 13O.

l Upon the front edge of the plate, upon which the horizontal needles rest, are arranged, between the needles,

projecting studs m m, which form a barrier, to prevent the loops of the yarn from being drawn baclcover the edge of the plate. From the under side of the plate H projects a stud, to which a bar, at, is pivoted, (see fig. 4,) said bar extending back, reaching over the shaft E, its rear end-being pivoted to the upper end of a lever, 0. The lower end of lever o is pivoted to one of the standards of the frame, or to a pin projecting from the same. The lever o is in rear of the shaft E, and in front of the same is suspended from or formed on the bar n a bar, as is clearly shown in fig. 14.

A cam, 9', is formed on the shaft E, havingv two projecting parts, of which one, when it strikes the lever 0, draws the plate H and all its appendages back, while the other, striking the bar p, moves it forward again.

Thus, the carrier receives a combined longitudinal and transverse reciprocating motion, the former by means of the segment D and rack F, the latter by means of the cams r and plate H. By the former motion the horizontal needles I are drawn in and out by means of the grooves in the carrier-plate, while bythe latter motion the are allmoved backward and forward at the same time.

The vertical needles J J, which are of similar construction as the horizontal needles I I, are all held in a block, K, which is held in front of the frame A, on the front end of a lever, The latter is, near its centre, pivoted to a stud, projecting from the stationary part of the frame A, and its rear end carries a friction-roller above the shaft E.

A cam, s, on the shaft E, serves to throw up the rear end of the lever L, thereby lowering the needle- .holder K, and a spring, t, serves to depress the rear end of the lever L, as long as the same is not acted upon by the cam 3, thereby raising the needle-block K.

, The vertical needles fit between the horizontal needles, one more horizontal needle being used, so that the horizontal needles are at the extreme ends. The .hooks of the vertical needles are in' their front, as shown. M is a plate, arranged in rear of the needles J, between the same and the front edge of the frame A. This plate is grooved in front to guide and steady the needles J, and is secured at one end to the upper end of a vertical sliding bar, to, which is fitted in suitable guides secured to the front of the frame. The lower end of the bar it is pivoted to the end of the horizontal arm of a bell-crank, 11, the horizontal arm of which is pivoted at or near its centre to the frame A. On the end of the vertical'arm of the bell-crank is formed a small horizontal projection, in which a set-screw, w, is secured. The end of the lever L presses upon the end of this screw when the needles J are drawn down, and. thereby raises the. bar 24, and with the plate M, so that the latter is moved towards the needle I, and close to the same, for purposes hereinafter specified.

The height to which the plate M is to be raised is regulated by thcsorcw w. A spring, 2:, draws the bar a and plate Isl down aft r the same are released from the lover L- The block K is pivotedto the front end of the lever L, and its upper end is guided by means of pins y g in slot-ted plates z, formed for the purpose et' keeping the needles J always in a vertical position.

N N are two upright posts, projecting above the plate it from the same; They are connected by'suitablo cross-bars, and from their front faces project horizontal arms 0 O, in the perforated or grooved front ends of which a sliding bar, P, is held. The bar P is parallel with and above the front edge of the machine, and from. it is suspended the thread-carrier or conveyor It, as is clearly shown in figs. 1, 3, and d. From the surface of the needle-carrier G project upward two verticalposts, S S, connected at their upper ends by a horizontal cross-bar, T. Two spring-plates, a 6, project from the bar T, and rest flatly upon the face of the bar 1?. Upon the surface of the bar P are formed two small cams, c c, which are rounded towards the inside, but have a. vertical sharp edge on the outside, as shown in fig. 1.

The bar T being connected with the carrier G, moves back and forth with the same. As it moves to the right-hand side, asper arrow in fig. 1, the spring-plate ai comes against the sharp edge of one of the cams c, and thereby the bar I is movedrin the same direction with the carrier. As soon as the spring-plate alarrives at a rounded projection, d, on the arm 0, it is raised, and clears over the said cam, so that, during the end of the horizontalstroicc of the carrier G, the bar P will not be moved. In the mean time, while the spring a is raised over the cam c, the spring b passes over the other-cam, c sliding over the rounded edge of the same, and, when the carrier G commences its return stroke, the spring b will carry the bar'P along until it is raised, by the projection d, over the cam. Thus the thread-carrier R is moved back and forth to carry yarn to and over the needles. The yarn is talccn from a spool secured upon the pin 0, as shown in fig. 4.

To the front edges of the plates H are secured two arms, 0 e, which project towards the front, and which are on the sides of the needles I I, to receive the turn of the yarn as the motion of the thread-carrier R is reversed, so that the yarn is not laid around the first needle, but around the arm a on the side. In fig. 3, these arms 0' are clearly shown. From the front edges of the posts N, above the arms 0 0, project short horizontal arms ff', the front ends of which are connected by means of a platc, U. In the front face of this plate are two or more upright grooves, to receive vertical-sliding plates g. The slides g are secured to the ends of eccentric shafts 72., which have at their outer ends toothed wheels 2", fitting upon a sliding rack, j, as shown, so that, by moving the rack by hand or by a suitable lever, the shafts It will be turned, and the slides Q will be raised or lowered, as may be desired. In the slides g is held a longitudinally-sliding plate, V, which has two studs, K, projecting from its front, against which studs the uprights S S, projecting from the needle-carrier G, strike during the motions of the needle-carrier. Thereby the plate V receives longitudinal sliding motion. The rear surface of the plate V is grooved, as shown in figs. 4 and 3, 3 being a back view of the plate. Into these grooves fit studs formed on the upper arms n of the sinkers. These sinkers W are series of levers, each one consisting of three main parts, Z, m, and 1t. Thcpart n is the almost horizontal or inner part of the same. It is pivoted by a pin, 0, to the stationary upper framework. To its rear end is pivoted the back arm 1,, which has studs fitting into the grooves in the plate -V. To the front end of the arm m is pivoted the actual sinker Z, which is guided in a combed or slotted frame, 1), as shown.

As the rear ends of the arms m,-arc raised, the arms I are depressed, so as to fit between the horizontal needles I, and the arms Z are raised when the arms 1:. are lowered. The sinkers are arranged alongside each other, their number being one more than that of the horizontal needles I, so that they can fit through the spacosbetwcen the needles I I, and between the needles and plates 772. As the groove in the back of the plate V has a V-shaped elevation near the centre, the arms n of the sinker-s will be raised, and their arms Z depressed once during each longitudinal move of the plate V, and will, during the same move, he returned to their original positions.

The sinliers are held the required distance apart by the grooved plates or combs pf, which are, by suitable arms,-connectcd with the stationary part of the frame of the machine. The-pin 0', which is the support and pivot for all the sinkcrs, has its bearingsin the stationary framework of the machine.

Bymeans of the slides g, eccentric shafts b; gear-wheels i, and rack j, the plate V can be raised or lowered at will, whereby the ends of the strikers will be brought more or less below the ncedles'I, thereby mak-' ing larger or smaller loops. The main arm m ofeach sinker. laps around the ends of the other two arms of the same, as shown in fig. 10. Thereby it is necessitated that the arm 1n should he of three thicknesses of sheet metal, while the other parts consist.of.but one thickness each.

To prevent the pins which connect the parts of the sinker fromwearing, and from getting out of the proper positions, I punch a circular piece, 1*, out of thcarms Z and n, and rcinsert the said piece 1" in its former position in the plate I or n. Then I put a rivet through the arms of the piece in, and through the plate r, asshown in fig. 7. The plate 1" will 'then be the pivot for the arm Z or .n, and hziving'becn stamped out of the -arm in which it is held, it will fit very accurately, and, as itis held between the checks of the piece m, it cannot lose its .place, nor shift its position.

In fig. 7, the manner of connecting the arms Z, m, and n is clearly shown. In fig. 8 the central fillingplate of the sinker-arm m is represented in side view. Fig. 9 shows the perforated circular plate 1', and fig. 10 shows an'edgc view of the arm m, showing its three thicknesses of sheet metal.

X is a needlc-presser, being a horizontal 'platc suspended above the needles I, and in front of the needles J, from an oscillating frame, Y, which is near its rear, and by a pin, 3, pivoted to the stationary upper framework of the machine.

To the rear end of the frame Y is secured a vertical arm, 25, which reaches down below the plate It, and is connected, by means of a horizontal bar, u, with tbeuppcr end of a lever, 11, which is, at its lower end, pivoted to the stationary framework of the machine, so as to be in rear of the axle E. A double cam, 10', on the shaft E, serves to throw the lever 71 back twice during each revolution of the shaft E, and a spring, 2:, throws the said lever forward when it is rcleased from the cam.

When the lever o is thrown back by the cam w, the rear end of the frame y will be-raised, and its front.

end lowered, and with. it the needle-presser X will be depressed. At the same time, as it is depressed, it is, owing to the oscillating motion of the. frame Y, drawn back, and thus the needle-presser is, once during each revolution of the shaft E, thrown down upon the hooks of the horizontal needles I, to close the same, as in fig. 14, and once upon or against the books of the needles J, to close the same, as in fig. 17.

The reasons for the various motions herein described will be set forth in the description of the operation of the machine. The various devices are all arranged adjustably, so that the lengths of strokes of all the parts of the machine can be regulated at pleasure.

I, will now proceed to describe the operation of the machine and the formation of the loops and meshes, with reference to the foregoing description. The working-mechanism will be fully understood from the above, and-will not have to be re-stated in the description of the operation.

When a thread for making a new loop is to be laid across the needles, the parts are in the position shown in fig. 13; that is, the horizontal needles are moved out beyond the front edge-of the frame, and are all equally far out, their shanks being in the straight part of the groove in the earrier Gr The carrier G is pushed out as far'as possible by means of the cam 1' and bar 10. The vertical needles J are held as high as possible, so that they are between the needles I, and sothat the points of their hooks are clear above the needles I. The plate M is forced against the-rear of the vertical needles J, so as to prevent a row of loops, a, which is already arranged around the needles J, from slipping down on the same. One row of loops, 6 is also already held on the needles I, between the needles J and the shields m. The web Z is suspended from the needles I and J by means of the loops Z1 and a and its lower end is weighted, or is wound around a roller, which receives intermittent rotary motion by a suitable mechanism, so as to wind the web up as soon as a new loop is formed, thereby keeping the web at the required degree of tension. The thread is held in the conveyor R, which is above one of the end plates e which are as far forward as the needles I, so that the thread will be laid around the arm 0, above which the conveyor is held.

When the machine is now set in motion, the needles I will be gradually pushed out as their shanks come into the v-shaped groove of the sliding carrier. At the same time the conveyor R is moved, by the action of the springs a b, and cam c, in front of the machine, over the needles, so as to deposit the thread upon the needles I, as is indicated in fig. 13.

As the thread is being thus deposited, the sinkers are brought down between the needles I upon the thread, so as to depress the thread between the needles, to form it into a waved line, as is clearly indicated in fig. 2. The sinkers follow the thread as it is being laid, so as to be able to draw the requisite amount from the spool. 'As soon as the sinkers have depressed the thread between the needles, they are raised again, to leave the needles free to move. While the sinkers are raised and lowered, the needles I are drawn back into the position at which they were bcfore starting." By-being thus drawn back, their hooks are passed over the newly-laid thread, so that the latter is held in the hooks of the needics I. Then the presser X is moved down upon the hooks of the needles I, as shown in fig. 14, so as to press the points of the hooks upon the bodies of the needles.

The plates H are then drawn back by the action of the cam 7 upon the lever o, and with it are carried back the carrier and all the needles I, The points of the latter being closed down, they are, by this backward motion, brought under the old loops 6 and the said loops, as they cannot be drawn back by the needles, on account of the barriers m m, will slide upon the hooks of the needles I in the manner shown iii fig. 15. At the same time the new thread will be firmly held between the hooks and bodies ot' the needles I, and, as the latter are drawn back by the motion of the plate H, the thread is drawn against the needles J, so that those parts of the thread which were depressed by the sinkcrs will be laid half around thene'edles J, as is indicated at c in fig. 15.

As the needles I are quite drawn back, the old loops Z2 slide over the front ends of the needles I, and are thrown over the thread c so as to form the thread 0 into two sets of loops, d and c of which the former are held by the needles J, the latter by the needles I, as shown in fig. 16. At this instant the loops a and d are held by the needles J, the latter loops being higher than the formerand the loops e are held by the hooks of the needles I, while the old loops 6 are off the needles, and connect the loops d and c or rather form the same; also suspending the web Z.. The needles J now begin to move downward, so that their books are brought over the loops (1 The plate M prevents the loops a from dropping on the needles. When the points of the books of the needles J are in line between the loops at and (lithe press er X.closes the hooks, as in figx l'i. When the needles J are further drawn down, they will take the loops a' around their hooks, while the loops d are firmly held between the hooks and bodies of the needles J, as is clearly shown in fig. 17. When the needles are drawn so far down that the loops a are near their upper ends, the plate M is moved up, and throws the loops a over the ends of the needles J, upon the ends of the loops rt, so as to close the same. Then there are only the loops d upon the needles J, and 0' upon the needles I, and the loops a and b are already thrown *upon the web forming part of the same. When the plate. II is moved out again, and the needles J pushed up, .the parts will be in the position shown in fig. 20, which is the same as that shown-in fig. 13, and thus, as the eonveyer R makes its return stroke, it will place a new thread upon the needles I, and the same will be acted upon by the sinkers, needles, presscr X, and plate M, in thesame manner as has been above set forth.

The number of needles does not change the operation nor construction of the machine. The stroke ofthe rack F must only be regulated in accordance with the number of needles. Theend plates e, which are secured to the plate H-at each end of the set of horizontal needles, are in line with the ends of the needles when the thread is being deposited. .But when the plate H is drawn back, so as to allow the thread to be formed around the needles I, the holders e are also drawn back, so as to let the loop, which was formed around one of them, be interlocked with the finished web, wher eb firm, substantial edges of the web are produced. Assoon as the plate His moved forward again, the point of one of the arms. a is brought over the thread, which is between the needles and the conveyer R, so that when the conveyor moves back towards the needles, the thread will be laid around and held by the said arm e.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The manner, herein shown and platesr' and rivets, as set forth.

2. The needle-carrier G, when connected with the slidinggrack F and with the plate H, in such a manner that a. combined longitudinal and transverse sli described. v

3. The reciprocating thread-carrier R, when arranged as described, in combination with the arms 0, needles I and J, and sinkers V, all made and operating substantially as herein shown and described.

4. The device herein shown and described, for communicating motion from the needle-carrier G to the bar P, holding the thread-carrier, said devices consisting of the spring-plates a b, cams c, all made and operating substantially as herein shown and described.

5. The devices herein shown and described, for adjusting the stroke of the sinkers W, consisting of the grooved plate V, vertical slides g, eccentric shafts It, gear-wheels 2", and sliding rackj, all made and operating substantially as herein shown and described.

6. The combination of the perforated disk d, adjustable connecting-rod-g, and the segment D, as and for the purpose set forth.

described, of connecting the arms of the sinkers m, by means of annular and stationary cams d,

JOHN CHANTRELL. Witnesses:

A. V. Bamssn, SOLON C. KEMON.

ding motion is imparted to it, substantially as herein shown and. 

